Inside the imperial palace.
"Absurd! Just look at what you've done!" Cao Wan'er, dressed in her phoenix crown and jewels, scolded Silver Consort, who stood silently to the side.
"It's been three months—three whole months—and the rumors outside still haven't died down!" Cao Wan'er glared fiercely at Silver Consort. If she didn't still have some use, she would've yeeted her ages ago. This woman is a total liability!
"This was Silver Consort's oversight. I am willing to accept any punishment." Faced with Cao Wan'er's accusations, Silver Consort could only comply.
"Punishment? And what good would that do? Will punishing you silence the people, or heal Judey's heart? Do you have any idea how hard it was for Judey to get this far, or the price he's paid? Now the commoners are calling him a murderous Song Zhijue, doubting his right to the throne, and the whole serpent world is spreading rumors that the real emperor is some hidden snake among the people!" Cao Wan'er nearly screamed.
She was so exhausted, so close to success—Judey was about to be crowned emperor, and she would finally become Empress Dowager. Everything was going according to her plan, but at this critical moment, this woman made such a disastrous mistake. Unforgivable!
"I'm sorry!" Silver Consort bowed her head deeply in apology. Right now, she honestly didn't know what else she could do to make Judey feel better. It was all her fault—all her fault...
"Your Majesty, please take care of yourself." Luna hurriedly supported Cao Wan'er's shaky figure, helping her to a seat.
"Silver Consort, please don't blame Her Majesty. These days, Song Zhijue does nothing but drink and refuses to eat. Seeing him like this breaks Her Majesty's heart!" Luna chimed in, playing good cop.
"That's enough, Luna!" Cao Wan'er pretended to shake her head, stopping her from continuing.
"No, Your Majesty, please let Luna speak. Otherwise, Silver Consort won't understand why you're so anxious." She turned to Silver Consort: "Ma'am, Her Majesty has treated the Crown Prince as her own son since he was little, taking care of everything herself. When he was five, he had a fever one night and Her Majesty stayed up with him for a whole day and night until he recovered. Even though the Crown Prince is your flesh and blood, Her Majesty has poured her heart into him all these years. Now he's suffered such a blow, refusing to see anyone, and it's breaking Her Majesty's heart. She hasn't slept well for days." Luna explained quickly.
Hearing this, Silver Consort was moved. "It's all my fault, Your Majesty. I apologize. But please, give me one more chance—just three more months. In three months, I will bring back the Dragon‑Phoenix Jade Seal. Then no one will dare gossip about the Crown Prince!" Silver Consort promised anxiously.
"You actually believe that demon woman's words?" Cao Wan'er rubbed her forehead and looked at Silver Consort.
"She was willing to die for them. That alone proves how much those men mean to her, so her words must be true. She wants to use the Jade Seal to protect their lives," Silver Consort insisted, then quickly added before Cao Wan'er could reply, "If that demon woman dares to lie to me, I'll kill them one by one—none of them are my match!"
Seeing this, Cao Wan'er's expression finally softened a little and her tone relaxed. "Silver Consort, I just want you to understand how much Judey wants the throne. Judey's sacrificed so much for it—we can't afford to fail. That demon woman is dead now, but the rumors among the people are terrifying. You know how they say a person's spit can drown someone? That's exactly what's happening here."
"I understand. Her Majesty is doing all this for Song Zhijue," Silver Consort replied.
"As long as you know. I just hope that as his real mother, you'll think carefully for your son's sake." Cao Wan'er deliberately stressed the words "real mother," reminding her that every move she makes now is for Song Zhijue—her son.
"I understand!" Hearing the Empress acknowledge her as the real mother, Silver Consort's hands trembled with excitement.
Of course, Cao Wan'er didn't miss this tiny reaction. While Silver Consort was caught up in her excitement, the Empress quickly flashed a look of disdain. "So, are they all being free-ranged now?" She was referring, of course, to those husbands.
"Yes. Because of the public uproar, we can't detain them. But please rest assured, Your Majesty—my people are watching them at all times," Silver Consort quickly assured, afraid Cao Wan'er might worry.
"Mm, letting them roam is actually good—it helps dispel the people's doubts. Sure, the commoners may be powerless, but their sons are all in the army. If they can't trust Song Zhijue, who's to say those soldiers won't waver? After all, they're family, don't you think?"
"Your Majesty is right, but..."
"But what?"
"It's just that these men have been searching for that demon woman's corpse at Mount Hua day after day. After two months with no luck, they split up to look elsewhere. Silver Consort thought it might be best to gather them together—once we get the secret message, we can find the Dragon‑Phoenix Jade Seal. But..."
"But you're afraid locking them up would cause more trouble for Judey, right?" The clever Cao Wan'er saw right through it.
"Your Majesty is wise."
"No need. Didn't you say their martial arts aren't up to much? If they want to search, let them search. The demon woman is dead anyway, right? Actually, letting them split up is even better for us. Think about it: their roaming around basically tells everyone that Song Zhijue didn't murder the martial artists. If he had, wouldn't he have silenced them by now? But not only did he not kill them—he's letting them travel freely. If you were a commoner, what would you think, hmm?" She smirked. Free advertising is the best advertising.
(This chapter isn't over yet ^.^ Please click next page to continue reading!)
"Now I finally understand why you let the Top Scholar reveal their identities instead of stopping him. You wanted everyone to know they've suffered because of Song Zhijue, and since they're all so devoted, of course they'd search for her body. That way, people have seen their faces, and when they see them traveling safely, they'll start doubting the rumors. Maybe they'll even think Song Zhijue was framed?"
"Exactly! That's my damage-control strategy!" Cao Wan'er said with a smile.
Hearing this, Silver Consort fell silent. At this moment, she couldn't help but admire Cao Wan'er's foresight.
"Now your job is to keep an eye on them. Also, I need you to slaughter a few powerful sects in the Jianghu—leave the most useful survivors alive. Pretend to kill them, but actually spare their lives, and make it look accidental, not deliberate. When you strike, I want you to loudly declare that you are the true mastermind, that you framed Song Zhijue and pinned everything on him!" Cao Wan'er said coldly, her chess pieces already set in place.
"Understood." That way, rumors will spread in the Jianghu that Silver Consort wanted to monopolize the martial world and framed Song Zhijue, shifting all the blame onto her and letting him off the hook.
"I truly admire Your Majesty's wisdom," Silver Consort said sincerely.
Just picturing Judey smiling again made Silver Consort's heart all warm and fuzzy.
But she had no idea that Cao Wan'er's real plan was elsewhere. When she set up these chess pieces, she included Silver Consort as one of them. The day she got the Dragon‑Phoenix Jade Seal and Judey took the throne, Silver Consort would have to die. Cao Wan'er would urge Song Zhijue to kill her, to win over the martial artists and the commoners. Then, she would announce to the world that Judey had slain the demoness himself.
No doubt, the commoners would be thrilled. And if Silver Consort refused to die, Judey would be condemned as weak and incompetent. But Silver Consort cared so much about Judey, she'd definitely die to protect him—she'd absolutely go through with it!
When that day came, no one would ever be able to snatch Judey away from her!
And she would keep this secret forever, ruling the Soaring Phoenix Realm side by side with her precious Judey.
"Mm, that's enough. Go on, get back to work." She waved Silver Consort away, not wanting to deal with her any longer. But inside, she was already doing a happy dance—just three months to go, and her wish would come true.
"Yes, Silver Consort takes her leave." Not knowing the real plan, Silver Consort bowed and left. She really wanted to see Song Zhijue, but didn't have the face for it. He must be angry and hurt... Oh well. When she got the Jade Seal, she'd hand it to him herself and watch him ascend the throne.
"Do you really think she can get the Dragon‑Phoenix Jade Seal in three months?" Luna handed Cao Wan'er a cup of tea.
Hearing this, Cao Wan'er took a sip of tea. "We'll trust her just this once. Besides, spreading the rumors and staging the killings will take at least a month. Even if she fails to get the Jade Seal, as long as Song Zhijue personally kills Silver Consort, the people will automatically forgive Judey!" She finished, flashing a sly smile.
"Your Majesty is truly brilliant!" Luna laughed, realizing that Silver Consort had become a chess piece fixed on a death line.